[P1] Questions about Airport

[Brian Pearce]

> Now I don't use AppleTalk anymore but would like to connect an eMac 
> with an
> iBook.

Given that one of the computers is a lightweight portable (and assuming 
you don't need a constant connection, if you want the iBook to remain 
portable), you could very easily get by with just an inexpensive 
Ethernet crossover cable; you wouldn't even need a hub. Connect it when 
you need to share files, disconnect it when you don't. Heck, you could 
even connect the two computers with a Firewire cable to quickly and 
easily transfer files.

But if you want a Network in the traditional sense, something you could 
access at a moment's notice, a wireless connection is probably the best 
way to go. They're relatively easy to set up, and there is lots of 
information on the web.

It's also become *significantly* less expensive to do this; 
first-generation AirPort cards are down to $79 each from Apple. If you 
decide need one, you can find a wide variety of equipment that will do 
the work of an AirPort Base Station for *much* less money than an 
AirPort Base Station costs.

It depends on what you want to do, really. But you'd be surprised at 
how useful and fun having a wireless network is.

BRIAN/bpearce at cloud9.net